The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-04-07

predetermined, louch hats.
"Then one of them accosted me.
"'You is the chap that was down to
Jones store yesterday, I take itr
Yes l was at Jones's store yes
terday; and now, what do you want Of
me, and why Are you treating me in
this wayP'
".We were down there, too an
swered the other, who had not spoken
until now, and we heard you give a
good deal of advice about how to catch
the h~oss-thieves the people were SO ex-
cited about. You advised them to or
ganize a vigilance committee, and hang
every hoss-thief caught. And they are
taking your advice.
ave heard old Jones advise you to
stop at this place, and it suited our
plans to a dot. We were just on our
way to the depot when the train slowed
up here, and dropped you right into
our hands without any trouble.
".Now,' he continued, we are going
to make a kind of example of you.
They'd never have thought of forming
a vigilance committee if it hadn't been
for you, and we propose to fix you SO
you'll not have a chance to give any
more advice
Saying which they conversed to-
gether in a low tone for a moment, and
then one of them went to the brush at
the roadside, where 1 could hear him
chopping and splitting with hatchet.
Presently he returned, bearing several
sticks in his hand.
".Now, my lad said Jed, we're
going to stake you down here, stretch
ed across the track, and see if you'll
get up any more vigilance commit
tees
Their object was now only too APP
parent, and was nothing more nor less
than to fasten me down on the railroad
track, SO hat the first train hat came
along would run over and crush me to
death!
II took in the whole horror of the
situation at once, and wildly protested:
"'Surely, if you are horse-thieves,
you must have some heart, and 1 beg of
you not to torture an honest man in
this way!'
"But I might well have talked to
the stones along the grade. One of the
thieves had been busy whiting away
On a piece of wood, while the above
conversation was taking place. He
now advanced and spoke:
"'Jed, jest hold on to him, and TIL
stop his talking so much and as l was
grasped in the powerful arms of the
aforesaid Jed, the second ruffian forced
my mouth open, and roughly fitted the
piece Of wood upon which he had been
whiting between my jaws, making it
utterly impossible for me to speak, and
painful for me even to breathe. Then
I was quickly thrown to the earth, and
dragged directly across the railroad
track.
"While one of the villains held me
down, although I struggled with all my
might, the other drove a large wooden
peg, or stake, into the ground, close to
the outside of one of the iron rails.
Then making a loop at n end of a
cord, he passed it over my feet, drew it
taut, and fastened the other end to the
stake.
HE next proceeded to prepare
another rope in a similar manner, after
driving a second stake on the outside
of the other rail. This second loop he
passed over my head, drew it as tight
as possible, without actually strangling
me, and fastened the end to the stake
just driven.
81 now found myself in a horrible po-
sition-with hands and feet tied;
another rope wa slip-noosed around
my ankles and fastened to a strong
stake, and a slip-noose around my neck
was drawn so taut that I could scarcely
breathe, with the end of the rope fas-
tened to a stake on the opposite side.
81 was literally stretched across the
iron rails, with my head resting upon
one rail, while my ankles were stretch
ed across the other, and the least strug-
gle on my part almost produced stran-
gulation.
".Now, young Teller, we wish you
much joy in your theory of catching
h~oss-thieves. Your vigilance commit
tee won't be apt to do you much good,
anyhow said one of the men.
".Wal, you'll have time to mediate
ont said the other rufian. The ex-
press train won't be along under an
hour and a half yet, and in your posi-
ton you car do a powerful sight OF
thinking in that time
II could not answer, and I heard the
r%ufians depart without being able to
make a sign or utter a groan.
1.-The horror of my situation burst
full upon my senses, now hat I was
left alone.
at was only too true the express
trsin Would be along in an hour and a
half!
81 recollect thinking how delightful
it would seem, in comparison, i'll could
have the privilege Of standing up un.
fcttered before a whole gang of desper.
ADDE'S, single-handed and fight for my
life, even though I was sure to lose it.
"Then again 1 thought of this being
a flag station no train would be APT
to be tagged at eleven o'clock at night,
even if it were, I was dashed down SC
far from the depot that it would be I'm.
der full Roadway again before it reach
ed me.
II thought of my mother and sister
far away in New York, and wondered
how long it would be before they would
hear of my death, or if they would evel
hear of it.
again my thoughts took another
channel, would my death be instan.
taneous, or was 1 fated to suffer physi.
cal agony-agony akin to what 1 was
suffering in mind? Why was I singled
out, as it were, to undergo this terrible
ordeal? Why had the All Wise taker
me for this terrible fate, instead of an.
III